As I work through my binging (versus just over eating) I really find that I have different things that fuel the binges.
I believe the majority of my binges are a cause of a sugar addiction, and even simply carbs. I notice that abstaining from those cuts down on my binges tremendously.
But there are other reasons, that cannot be helped through cutting out sugar.
I also use food as a way to de-stress. If I am really really stressed and I do not see the option to step away from the cause of the stress, I turn to food. Ideally, I'd like it to be my trigger foods, something sweet, but I can tell these binges are different because I'm not craving ice cream or candy, they are for "real" nutritious food. I just want it fast and a lot of it.
I have not found a way to stop these binges. Thankfully they are fewer, maybe once or twice a month. I try to just ride them out, and eat slower and separate eating by some time. In other words instead of eating a huge meal, then seconds, then thirds (yikes) I will eat, then wait some time and if the craving persists, and it nearly always does, I eat again. It just feels different from regular eating, like I NEED to eat this food...
Today I have been eating like every 30 minutes...and I have been eating foods that make my cravings worse, so I really haven't helped the situation. The foods are healthy, but still a lot of calories, apples and peanut butter, almonds, and some cheese...and a banana...
I know an extremely stressful morning precipitated this binge. I started feeling the cravings to just eat mindlessly while still mid-stressful situation today. And its not like I got to relax when I got home. I'm being vague, but I saw no "exit" strategy to my stress today, so I start wanting to eat to deal. If I knew that I was able to "get away" from what was stressing me, especially much earlier today, I believe I would have avoided this binge.
I'm not sure what my point is of this post...I guess it just seems that I use food when I feel trapped (stressed)...And no amount of sugar abstinence is going to help that. Its behavioral I suppose.